Fluid applicator having relatively adjustable valve and spreader elements



s M L A W n ma m w m& m t R mw A SS mm D n a M v June 10, 1958 FLUID APPLICATOR HAVING RELATIVELY ADJUSTABLE United States Patent 9 FLUID APPLICATOR I-LAVING RELATIVELY AD- J USTABLE VALVE AND SPREADER ELEMENTS Application September 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,928

1 Claim. (Cl. -139) This invention relates generally to the field of marking or spreading devices, and more particularly to improved forms thereof. The invention has particular reference to those types of devices adapted to dispense a fluid upon a surfacethrough a spring loaded ball valve, and has applications in a variety of uses, as for example, the spreading of dry'cleaning fluid, liquid shoe polishes, as well as the spreading of semi-solid inks for marking a variety of porous and non-porous surfaces.

'When spreading semi-solid fluids of the type mentioned above, for purposes of marking, or even application, considerable difliculty has been involved when using the valves of the spring loaded ball type owing to the unyielding surface with which the ball is placed in contact. The surface of the ball, being spherical, makes only a point contact with'the planar surface, allowing the spreading of the fluid to be greater at the sides of the ball, as comparedto the area adjacent the point of contact. As the ball is moved along the surface, a pair of ridges consisting of fluid is formed thereupon. The excessive flow of fluid is permitted by the retraction of the ball valve which wastes a considerable amount of the fluid, and results in a line or mark which may be rubbed off the surface upon which the fluid is deposited, where the same is non-porous, or which may be smeared over adjoining areas, an undesirable condition.

It is therefore among the principal objects of. the present invention to provide a combination ball-type valve and spreader which, when in use, will substantially eliminate all of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a combination valve and spreader structure, which incorporates a resiliently urged ball-type valve which is adapted to feed a fluid to a centrally disposed portion of a relatively porous fibrous or roughened spreader element, which in turn is positioned to distribute the fluid with an even wiping motion.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of combination valve and spreader structure in which the a degree of flow of fluid through the valve may be controlled by the degree of pressure exerted upon the device, as the same is brought into contact with the surface to whichthe fluid is to be applied.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of combination valve and spreader structure in which the spreader at least partially shields the ball valve structure so that fluid may not be accidentally discharged therethrough.

Still another'object of the invention lies in the provision of combination spreader and valve structure in which the cost of fabrication may be of arelatively low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the inventive structure may be fabricated in-a variety of forms to adapt the same to be fitted upon the openings of various types of containers, as for example, collapsible tubes,

Patented June 10, 1958 flexible bottles, and morerelatively rigid'container structures.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that owing to the simplicity of the inventive structure, the same may have a relatively long period of useful life, and where the same is formed to be detachable from a container, it may be reattached to fresh containers of fluid to be reused many times.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the spreader structure may be resiliently associated with respect to the valve structure, so that the degree of flow through the valve may be relatively unaffected by the presence of the spreader structure, until after the fluid has passed through the valve.

Still another feature of the invention lies in the provision of combination valve and spreader structure in which the relative position of the spreading structure, with respect to the valve structure, is adjustable, so that the degree of wiping and spreading action obtained may be varied as required. I

A further feature of the invention lies in the provision of combination valve and spreader structure in which provision is made for uniform contact of the spreading structure irrespective of the angle between the structure and the surface to which application is made.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

On the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a principal embodiment of the invention. A

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 2--2 on 'Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view in perspective showing the component parts comprising the embodiment Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing an alternate preferred form of the embodiment.

Figure 5 is a' fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing an alternate form of the second embodiment of the invention.

The embodiment of the invention, as shown on Figures l to 5, inclusive, the device, generally indicated by reference character 70, is shown in association with a container, namely, a collapsible tube 72.

The device 70 includes a tube engaging element 74, a valve element 76, anda spreader element 78.

The container engaging element 74 has provided on the outer surface thereof a plurality of tool-engaging surfaces 80, which permit the same to be tightly seated upon the tube. A tapered member 82 forms a seat 84 for the spreader element'78, as well as a tubular member 86, in which the valve element 76 is disposed. The tubular member 86 is provided with a plurality of threads or projections 88, which provide means for engaging the spreader element 78 to maintain the same thereupon.

The coil spring 90 has an enlarged inner end 91, which seats directly upon the neck 92 of the tube 72, the inner end 93 being inserted within the bore 94 of the tube 86, to urge the ball 96 to a closed position within the bore.

The spreader element 78 includes a spreading member 98 preferably formed from felt leather or similar porous or roughened substance and a resilient member ltltlintegrated therewith, preferably formed from sponge rubber, or resilient material having similar properties. The members 98 and 100 are preferably cemented together at the surfaces indicated by reference character 1 01, after which the inner surface of the bore 104 is eng'a'ged with the threads, or projections 88: tom'a'intain the collapsible tube-72 is compressed during the dispensing o'f"the'"irik or other fluid, it is not necessary to provide any provision for air to enter the'tu'be' as the contents ar'e'cohsunied; r V

Turning now tc'i'th'e alternate and preferred'form of the embodiment (as seen on Figure 4), parts corresponding to those of the principal embodiment have been designatedby'si'milar reference characters witli'the additional suflix prime'().

The first alternate form of' the embodiment differs from the principal form' in that the resilient member 1% is mounted np'on a threaded metallic collar 1%, in turn engageable with the threads 83. Owing to the relative inflexibility of the collar'1ll6, the plane of the surface 162' may be adjusted with respect to the ball 76' by-rotating thecoliar' 1&6 withrespect to the container engagement element'74. This construction'is particularlyuseful wherethe spreader elementis subjected to a large degree of wear during the useful life of the device, as for example, where the same is used for marking relatively rough surfaces.

Turning now to the second alternate form of the embodiment (as seen on Figure 5), parts corresponding to those of the principal'form have been designated by similar reference characters with the additional suffix double prime The second alternate form differs from the principal formprincipally in the interconnection of the resilient member 1110 with respect to the tubular member 86. In the second alternate form there is provided a coiled spring 108, one end of which is engageable within a recess 110 on the container engagement element 74", and the other convolutions of which resiliently grip the resilient member 100". In this form, owing to the relatively low spring modulus of the spring 108, the spreaderelement flexes sufliciently to bear lightly upon the surface being marked at the point of application of the fluid.

It may thus been seen that we have invented novel and highly useful improvements in combination valve and spreading devices for use in dispensing fluid upon a surface to be marked or otherwise covered. Unlike prior "tHe fiiii'd'is t obe applied' through resiliently urged'ball' art devices, a fluid is fed directly to the surface to which valve means. As soon as the fluid is dispensed, it is quickly and evenly distributed by the wiping action of the spreader element, so that no fluid is wasted or left remaining undistributed to-besmeared or removed by subsequent contact. The device is essentially simple in construction; with relatively fewmoving parts and not only ofier s arelatively longtrouble-free useful life, but also may be manufactured at a reasonably low cost.

We wish 'ittobe understood that we do not consider the invention limited to the exact details of structure shown andset forth in this application, for obvious modificationswill occur to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.-

We claim: 7'

An applicator device for use in applying a fluid to a surface comprising; a valve element and a spreader element; saldval've elementi'ncluding a firstelongated tube having an opening at'an'endtliereof and a spring pressed ball disposed within saidopening; said spreader element being in the form of a second tubesurrounding said first tube andh'aving a spreading surface lying'substantialiy tangentially to the'exposed surface of said spring pressed ball; and-means for adjusting the axial position of said spreader element with respect'to said valve element where by wear occurring uponithe' surface of said spreading element rnay be compensated for and said surface may be maintained in tangential relationship with respect to the exposed surface of said ball, said means including a'threaded'enga-gement of the spreader element upon the valve' element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 212,279 Stahle Feb. 11, 1879 511,215 Rodwell Dec. 19, 1893 741,147 La Burt et a1. Oct. 13, 1903* 1,007,816 Stubenrauch Nov. 7, 1911 1,088,524 BoOp Feb. 24, 1914 1,194,347 Allen Aug. 15, 1916 1,335,896 Hyde Apr. 6, 1920 2,118,051 MacMichael May 24, 1938 2,127,794 Wastman Aug. 23, 1938 

